Assistive Technology and Telecare (Technology Enabled Care)

Assistive technology and Telecare can be provided:

1. As part of a reablement service; or
2. To support hospital discharges; or
3. Alongside services to meet on ongoing care and support needs; or
4. Independent from all of the above.

It is available to people who live in:

1. Their own home;
2. Rented accommodation (including Local Authority accommodation);
3. Supported living;
4. Extra Care;
5. Shared lives placements.

If a person lives in residential or nursing care assistive technology and Telecare is normally the responsibility of the provider to assess and arrange.

Beyond Housing (formerly Coast & Country Housing) provide the delivery of Telecare and Assistive Technology Services for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. The contract is for the provision of a service for the:

• Purchase, storage, stock management, provision, installation, maintenance and routine testing of assistive technology and Telecare equipment and the removal and recycling of equipment when it is no longer needed;
• Call centre monitoring available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year; and
• Mobile emergency response (with personal care where identified) available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council currently provide Telecare & assistive technology as a non-chargeable service to individuals.

When consenting to Telecare services people are informed that there is currently no charge for Telecare but there may be a charge for the service in the future (and that they would be notified of the charge (if any) after a financial assessment).

If the person has an existing (or developing) Care and Support Plan any assistive technology or Telecare that is provided to meet on-going needs must be recorded in the plan.

Assistive technology and Telecare should not be provided until an appropriate and proportionate assessment of need has been carried out.

Any social care practitioner can assess the need for assistive technology and Telecare as part of a needs assessment if they are confident to do so.

If the person only requires Telecare services, then a support plan is not created on Casebook.  Instead, the service is recorded on a case note and the case is transferred to a Locality Team Review Tray.

A Social Care Practitioner will review the case and if no other needs are identified the person is informed that the case will be closed and provided with contact details should other needs arise.    

Beyond Housing are responsible for carrying out reviews for people with Telecare services only.  This is to ensure that services provided are still appropriate and required.

Referrals for the service are made by a health or social care practitioner directly to Beyond Housing. The referral form can be found in the Local Resources section.

If a person has other care and support needs the referral may have been made following a needs assessment, but this is not always the case.

Upon receipt of a referral Beyond Housing are responsible for contacting the person directly to arrange installation.

Beyond Housing are responsible for providing reviews to people that require Telecare services only.  This review will ensure services are still appropriate and required and to check and update personal information.

If the person has other care and support needs the Telecare services will be checked as part of the person’s annual review.

Any assistive technology or Telecare that is part of a person's Care and Support Plan should always be reviewed as part of the statutory review of that plan.

If the person has a problem with their equipment, they (or their representative) should contact Beyond Housing directly to report the issue.

Tel: 0345 065 5656

If equipment is no longer needed and needs to be returned, the person (or their representative) should contact Beyond Housing in the first instance.

Tel: 0345 065 5656

Beyond Housing will collect or alternatively the person or a representative can return the equipment to any Beyond Housing office.

Note: If a review has determined that assistive technology or Telecare equipment is no longer required these arrangements should only be made when any alternative provision to meet needs is in place.